Ibuprofen

So-called non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen, diclofenac and naproxen, seem to work better when there is clear evidence of an inflammatory cause, such as arthritis or an injury.

They should not be used for long periods unless you have discussed it with your doctor.

If you take them for long periods, there's an increased risk of stomach upset, including bleeding, and kidney and heart problems.

Don't take more than the recommended dose, as this will increase the risk of serious side effects.

Aspirin

It produces the same kind of side effects as other NSAIDs, but is not as effective as a painkiller, which means it's not usually prescribed for pain.

It is dangerous for children under 16.

Codeine

Codeine doesn’t work very well on its own. It works better when combined with paracetamol in a single pill.

You can buy co-codamol (paracetamol and low-dose codeine) over the counter. Higher-dose codeine has to be prescribed.

Codeine and other medium-strength prescribed painkillers can cause dependency, which means that when you stop taking them you may feel unwell for a short period.

If you need more and more of these drugs, contact your GP or other healthcare professional for advice.

Soluble painkillers

Effervescent painkillers are high in salt, containing up to 1g per tablet.

Too much salt can raise your blood pressure, which puts you at increased risk of health problems such as heart disease and stroke.

You may want to consider switching to a non-effervescent painkiller, especially if you've been advised to watch or reduce your salt intake.

Amitriptyline and gabapentin

Amitriptyline is a drug for depression and gabapentin is a drug for epilepsy.

Each of these medicines can also be used to treat pain caused by nerve sensitivity or nerve damage, such as shingles, diabetes nerve pain and sciatica.

You don’t have to have depression or epilepsy for these tablets to help your nerve pain.

Amitriptyline and gabapentin both have to be prescribed by a GP.

Side effects include drowsiness and dizziness.

Morphine

Morphine and morphine-like drugs (such as oxycodone, fentanyl and buprenorphine) are the strongest painkillers there are.

Some come as a patch, but they all work in similar ways and should only be used for severe pain.

They will only be prescribed after consultation with your GP or a pain specialist. The dose and your response will be closely monitored. These drugs should only be used as part of a long-term plan to manage your pain.